Councillors and committees

Agenda and minutes

Venue: Colt Hill Wharf, Colt Hill, Odiham, HOOK, Hants RG29 1AL

Contact: Richard Plummer 

Items
No. Item

118.

APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE

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218.

MINUTES OF PREVIOUS MEETING: pdf icon PDF 3 MB

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    To agree the minutes of the previous meeting as a true and accurate record of proceedings.

    Minutes:

    The minutes were agreed as an accurate record of the meeting.

318.

DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST

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    All Members present are required to declare, at this point in the meeting or as soon as possible thereafter

    (i)            Any disclosable pecuniary interests and / or

    (ii)           Other interests arising under the Code of Conduct in respect of any item(s) of business being considered at this meeting

    NOTES:

    ·         Members are reminded that they must not participate in any item where they have a disclosable pecuniary interest

    ·         As well as an interest of the Member, this includes any interest, of which the Member is aware, that relates to the Member’s spouse or civil partner (or any person with whom the Member is living as a spouse or civil partner)

    ·         Members with a significant personal interest may participate in the discussion and vote on that matter unless that interest could be reasonably regarded as prejudicial.

     

418.

QUESTIONS AND PETITIONS

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    To receive either any questions or petitions.

     

    Notes:

    1.    The deadline for Member’s questions is four working days before the meeting [22 June 2018].

    2.    The deadline for public questions is seven days before the meeting [21 June 2018].

    3.    The deadline for petitions was 14 days before the meeting, and no petitions have been received.

    Minutes:

    There were no questions or petitions received.

518.

Forward Work Programme and Actions Tracker pdf icon PDF 72 KB

618.

Final Accounts 2017/18 pdf icon PDF 114 KB

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    Purpose of the report: To brief Members on the financial outturn of the Basingstoke Canal Authority.  Members are asked to review and agree the outturn position for the year 2017/18.

    Minutes:

    Declarations of interest:

     

    None

     

    Officers:

    Jane Lovett, Honorary Treasurer, Basingstoke Canal Authority, Hampshire County Council

     

    Key points raised during the discussion:

     

    1. Officers highlighted key points, explaining that the input to reserves for the year 2017/18 had been greater than expected. It was explained that reasons for this were a combination of increases in income, reductions in expenditure but mainly  the delay of the tree survey, which would be undertaken in 2019.
    2. Officers noted the draw on capital funding from Hampshire was primarily focussed on repairs to the Dogmersfield landslip in 2017/18.

    3. It was explained that the levels of reserves were at an acceptable level to cover contingencies, highlighting that the service expected reserves at the end of 2018/19 to be approximately £550,000.
    4. Members questioned the Surrey estates policy, and why income from houseboat moorings and Canal cottages was not returned to the Basingstoke Canal Authority (BCA), nor reported in the accounts. The Vice-Chairman noted that Surrey County Council policy was Surrey Property Services acted as the corporate landlord for the Council and that income currently goes to them. It was suggested that a final decision on houseboat income should be made clear and that this would be presented to the Committee.

    5. Members asked whether future finance reports could include background income that does not necessarily go directly to the Basingstoke Canal Authority (BCA), but effects the commercial viability of the canal, as part of the finance report.

     

    Actions/ further information to be provided:

     

    1. That a decision from Surrey County Council regarding the status of houseboat income and its allocation to the BCA or Surrey Property Services be made and presented to the Committee in November 2018.

     

    RESOLVED:

     

    1. That future finance reports include background income, such as that from houseboat revenue, as part of the overall finance report.

     

     

718.

Canal Management Report pdf icon PDF 100 KB

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    Purpose of the report: To inform the Committee of actions taken by the Strategic Manager and BCA Canal Manager in managing, maintaining and operating the Canal; and report the work of the Conservation Steering Group.

     

    Minutes:

    Declarations of interest:

     

    None

     

    Officers:

     

    James Taylor, Strategic Manager, Basingstoke Canal Authority

    Fiona Shipp, Canal Manager, Basingstoke Canal Authority

     

    Key points raised during the discussion:

     

    1. Officers outlined the work that had been undertaken by the Basingstoke Canal Authority (BCA) since November 2017. It was particularly noted that the lock gates scheduled in the cyclical replacement programme had been undertaken and that there had been a drain down of the St John’s Lock Flight undertaken for Principle Inspections. It was also noted that a bat hibernation survey and engineering inspection of Greywell Tunnel had been completed.

    2. Officers highlighted that ten tonnes of Signal crayfish had been removed from the canal as a means of pest control. It was noted that the Canal had an agreement with a fisherman who removed the crayfish gratis for the BCA, but that he kept all profits from selling. It was noted that the service was potentially reviewing this, but stressed that this was a pest control measure and not a profit making scheme. It was noted that levels of damage and reported numbers from crayfish had decreased significantly.

    3. Officers highlighted that there had been a boating accident at lock 18 involving irreparable damage to one of the lock gates. It was noted that this had resulted in closure of Deepcut lock flight for approximately 6-8 weeks.

    4. It was explained, after concerns were raised by Members, that there have been badger evictions that had been undertaken humanely and using appropriate means under the appropriate licences.

    5. Members raised concerns regarding cyclists and potential adverse effects of cyclists on other users of the canal, questioning whether there was potential for a campaign to slow cyclist speeds and increase awareness. Officers highlighted that cyclists use the towpath by permission and that the towpath was not a right of way. Officers also noted that they had been educating cyclist to slow and share the towpath under the “Share the Space, Drop your Pace” slogan for some time, and that there was funding available for additional signage, but that there had been little evidence of effect on a proportion of users. Officers noted that destination signing which had included times had been removed as previously requested by the Committee. Members suggested that there needed to be an effort to educate users regarding fair usage and safety. Members suggested that the Committee receive a further report on cycling strategies and issues raised from cyclists to a future meeting of the JMC.

    6. Officers noted the positive contribution of volunteers on the canal and that there had been a contribution of approximately £86,000 worth of volunteer hours on the Canal. Officers also offered congratulations to the Basingstoke Canal Society on achieving the Queens Award for Voluntary Service in 2018.

    7. It was explained that there had been a leak near Farnborough in May 2018 which was being repaired before the Air show.

    8. It was noted that there was work being undertaken on the campsite development agreed at the November 2017 meeting of the JMC, noting  ...  view the full minutes text for item 718.

818.

Risk Register Update pdf icon PDF 58 KB

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    Purpose of the report: To provide Members with an update of the key areas of risk facing the Basingstoke Canal Authority.

    Additional documents:

    Minutes:

    Declarations of interest:

     

    None

     

    Officers:

    James Taylor, Strategic Manager, Basingstoke Canal Authority

     

    Key points raised during the discussion:

     

    1. Officers noted that the Risk Register had not been modified from the previous meeting and that it was appended to this meeting for information. Members had no further comment.

     

    Actions/ further information to be provided:

     

    1. None

     

    Recommendations:

     

    1. None

     

918.

Capital Works Progress Report pdf icon PDF 97 KB

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    Purpose of the report: To update the Committee on the forward programme of “capital works” funded by Surrey and Hampshire County Councils.

     

    Minutes:

    Declarations of interest:

     

    None

     

    Officers:

    James Taylor, Strategic Manager, Basingstoke Canal Authority
    Lisa Creaye-Griffin, Countryside Group Manager, Surrey County Council
    Jo Heath, Head of Countryside, Hampshire County Council

     

    Key points raised during the discussion:

     

    1. Officers highlighted projects planned in the future using Capital Funding from the two owning authorities.  It was noted that there was work planned on bank protection, bed-lining at Crookham and at Scotland Bridge car park amongst other projects for 2018/19.

    2. It was noted that most projects were safety related, but some such as Scotland Bridge car park were a spend to save opportunity, noting that following the completion of works the service was planning to implement charges to offset costs and improve revenue to the BCA.

    3. It was explained by officers that there was currently a difference in allocated Capital funding between the two owning authorities, with Surrey County Council allocating less. It was noteworthy that this was the first instance in which there had been a difference between the allocations of the two owning authorities.

    4. Officers noted that dredging had become a significantly more important issue, and that the service had allocated Capital funding to address this over the next few financial years. It was suggested that the Surrey profile was significantly less silted than that of Hampshire, but that the key requirements in the Surrey owned half was spot dredging.

    5. It was noted that the current condition of the canal, which would be maintained through Capital funding, was good. It was further noted that the Canal and Rivers Trust (CRT) had also noted the positive condition of the canal.

     

    Actions/ further information to be provided:

     

    1. SCC agreed to see if they could increase their capital allocation to that provided by HCC.

     

    Recommendations:

    1. None

     

1018.

Basingstoke Canal Society Report pdf icon PDF 851 KB

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    Purpose of the report: To update the Committee on the work undertaken by the Basingstoke Canal Society since its last meeting.

     

    Minutes:

    Declarations of interest:

     

    None

     

    Witnesses:

    Philip Riley, Chairman of the Basingstoke Canal Society

     

    Key points raised during the discussion:

     

    1. The Chairman of the Basingstoke Canal Society noted that the Society had been awarded the Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service. The Committee acknowledged that this was a significant achievement for the society and congratulated them on their work on the canal.

    2. The Chairman of the Basingstoke Canal Society highlighted work undertaken since November 2017, noting the Crookham Wharf work and Lengthsman scheme as key areas of success.

    3. It was noted that the society had several projects planned for the future, including developing the Colt Hill Wharf. It was noted that plans were in discussion regarding this.

     

     

    Actions/ further information to be provided:

     

    1. None

     

    Recommendations:

     

    1. None

     

1118.

DATE OF THE NEXT MEETING

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    The next meeting of the Basingstoke Joint Management Committee will be held on 22 November 2018.

    Minutes:

    The Committee noted that its next meeting would be on 22 November 2018.